Tahitian Pearls Info

Tahitian Pearls Info - All you need to know about pearl farming in French Polynesia.

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  • Microplastics: A Growing Threat to French Polynesia’s Pearl Industry

    Tony Gardon’s doctoral thesis at the University of French Polynesia (UPF) highlights growing concerns about the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on Polynesia’s pearl oysters, threatening the sustainability of the pearl industry and the health of lagoon ecosystems.

    His research reveals that microplastic contamination in pearl farming lagoons severely affects the oysters’ energy metabolism, impairs gamete formation, and reduces pearl quality. Laboratory data supports these findings, showing energy imbalances in oysters, reproductive disruptions, and a decline in pearl quality.

    Funded by the Directorate of Marine Resources (DRM), this study indicates that plastic waste, introduced by farming structures since the 1980s, is now omnipresent in Polynesia’s pearl lagoon waters. These microplastics, found in high concentrations in surface waters and the water column, pose a major risk to pearl oysters, which—as filter-feeding organisms—are particularly vulnerable.

    While pearl farming is not the primary source of plastic waste, global plastic production, largely used for packaging, significantly contributes to ocean pollution. In Polynesia, the pearl industry generates around 140 tons of plastic waste annually, worsening lagoon degradation.

    Facing this environmental threat, the DRM supports research projects like Resccue, which seeks sustainable solutions for pearl farming and promotes a circular economy. However, the high cost and complexity of lagoon cleanup make it urgent to find alternative solutions and reform industry practices. Reducing plastic pollution is crucial not only to protect the already economically fragile pearl industry but also to ensure the long-term sustainability of lagoon ecosystems.

  • MAIAO Software Enhancement: Agreement Signed to Strengthen French Polynesia’s Pearl Industry

    This afternoon, French Polynesia’s Vice President and Minister of the Blue Economy, Teva Rohfritsch, signed a co-ownership agreement with University of French Polynesia President Patrick Capolsini to commercialize the MAIAO software patent.

    The software, officially named “Automatic Measurement of Nacre Thickness by X-ray” (MAIAO), represents years of collaboration between the Marine Resources Department (DRM) and the University’s research team.

    Currently operational in DRM’s pearl quality control unit, MAIAO automates nacre thickness measurement using X-ray images – a breakthrough developed through a PhD student’s three-year research project.

    Key innovation:
    • Eliminates subjectivity in manual measurements previously conducted by X-ray image analysts
    • Delivers precise, standardized pearl evaluations
    • Enhances quality control for Polynesia’s signature export

    “MAIAO ensures objective, consistent quality assessment – crucial for maintaining our pearls’ premium positioning,” emphasized University President Capolsini during the signing ceremony.

    The agreement formalizes joint stewardship of this intellectual property, marking a strategic step in modernizing Polynesia’s pearl sector through academic-government partnership.

    MAIAO Software Enhancement: Agreement Signed to Strengthen French Polynesia's Pearl Industry

  • Crisis in Polynesian Pearl Farming: Calls for Action Amid Declining Pearl Quality

    Pearl farmers are sounding the alarm about critical challenges facing their industry. They blame the 2017 local legislation governing pearl production and trade for causing price drops, particularly after the elimination of export quality controls. They also strongly oppose the sale and export of rejected pearls (rebuts).

    Members of the Small and Medium-Sized Pearl Farmers Union of French Polynesia (SPMPPF) and the Federation of Marine Resources Professionals (FPRME) held a press conference Thursday morning. They expressed frustration over a persistent “communication breakdown” with the government spanning three years, despite repeated appeals. SPMPPF and FPRME President Mia Williams denounced feeling systematically ignored by authorities.

    Farmers specifically criticize the July 18, 2017 law, asserting prices have plummeted since its implementation – a decline exacerbated by COVID-19. They highlight the disappearance of X-ray quality controls and the creation of a “reject pearls” category as particularly damaging.

    To counter this crisis, farmers propose an emergency action plan:

    1. An outright ban on selling/exporting rejected pearls, with immediate destruction required
    2. Mandatory nacre thickness controls to maintain product quality
    3. Quality-driven pricing to reverse market devaluation

    While the 2017 law established a Pearl Farming Council, Williams calls it “an empty shell,” criticizing delayed implementation – only 9 of 25 pearl-producing islands have formed management committees. She urges simplified committee structures for faster rollout.

    In response, Pearl Farming Minister Teva Rohfritsch notes the price decline began in the early 2000s, maintaining the 2017 law aimed to ensure sustainable resource management. He announced an August meeting with the Pearl Farming Council and management committees to develop post-COVID recovery strategies. The minister also pledged to propose exemptions for maritime occupancy fees and pearl export duties to relevant authorities.

  • Plastic Pollution: An Anthropological Study to Understand the Situation in Tuamotu Lagoons

    While numerous studies have examined lagoon pollution in French Polynesia, none have yet approached the issue from a social sciences perspective. To address this gap, the local government has launched a study running through December, aimed at raising public awareness about reducing macro-waste in coral lagoons. These lagoons, which have suffered declining water quality for years, are the focus of the investigation.

    In January, IFREMER had already highlighted the concerning impact of microplastic pollution on pearl oysters in the Tuamotu archipelago, emphasizing pearl farming’s role in this environmental challenge.

    A partnership agreement (No. 2233 VP/DRM) was signed between the government, the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), the Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE), and the Marine Resources Department for a project titled “Social Perceptions of Pollution and Pearl Farming Waste in the Tuamotu.” This anthropological study seeks to examine the social crisis affecting pearl-producing atoll communities.

    The agreement notes that pearl farming, due to its extensive plastic use, significantly contributes to lagoon pollution. Plastic waste—both macro-debris and microplastics—exerts environmental pressure on coral ecosystems and aquaculture populations.

    The study will focus on analyzing plastic pollution through a social sciences lens, primarily anthropology, to better understand local perceptions of pollution and waste.

    Findings will help propose solutions to reduce macro-waste pollution in coral lagoons and could lead to developing a best practices charter with the Marine Resources Department. This social approach is considered crucial for influencing pearl farmers’ practices and mitigating lagoon pollution.

    Finally, an ethnographic survey will be conducted across three Tuamotu atolls (Ahe, Takaroa, Takapoto) to compare socio-economic similarities and ecological differences between sites. An anthropology student will oversee the six-month fieldwork.

  • COVID-19 Crisis Threatens Tahitian Pearls: An Industry on the Brink

    Tahiti’s pearl farming sector, a cornerstone of the local economy, is facing an unprecedented crisis since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    With commercial flights suspended, the industry has been paralyzed. The absence of Chinese grafting technicians, essential for oyster seeding, has severely slowed down production.

    Sabine Lorillon, president of the Cultured Pearl Traders’ Union, warns of the gravity of the situation. The sector is in limbo: sales and purchases are frozen as foreign clients remain stranded abroad. When trade resumes, there are fears of a drastic price drop, potentially driving pearl values far below the current 500-600 Fcfp per pearl.

    While high-quality pearls retain their luster, professionals fear mounting pressure from buyers to slash prices, which could devalue accumulated farm inventories. Thomas Esen, head of Rikitea’s Pearl Farming Management Committee, notes this crisis may accelerate the closure of many pearl farms that were already struggling pre-pandemic.

    The lockdown of Chinese grafters has halted production progress. Only basic oyster maintenance tasks can currently be performed. With no pearl sales possible, some farmers have been forced to cut employee wages, worsening an already precarious economic situation.

    Amid this uncertainty, industry professionals have zero visibility for the coming months. They also worry that territorial quarantine measures may deter foreign buyers. Sabine Lorillon concludes that while the sector won’t disappear, recovery will be slow – and Tahitian pearls may lose their premium positioning in the global market.

  • Teva Rohfritsch Responds to Criticism: A Call for Solidarity During the Crisis and a Post-Crisis Plan to Revitalize Pearl Farming

    Teva Rohfritsch, Vice President in charge of the blue economy, has responded to criticism from pearl farmers following the announcement of his crisis management measures.
    They accuse him of contributing to the decline in pearl prices. In an official statement, Rohfritsch emphasized that the government’s priority is to support struggling families during the health crisis while safeguarding the cash flow of pearl industry professionals.

    He stressed that the current situation is exceptional and requires solidarity from all players in the pearl industry—from producers and traders to jewelers. The Vice President also clarified that collective efforts are essential to navigating this unprecedented economic and health crisis.

    Rohfritsch further announced that the government is preparing a post-crisis action plan, which will be presented at the next meeting of the Pearl Farming Council. This plan aims to strengthen the pearl industry once the crisis subsides, particularly through measures to revive international markets while leveraging lessons learned from this challenging period.

    Finally, the Vice President underscored that all options are being considered to support the pearl sector, depending on how the situation evolves. The statement reiterated that solidarity and cooperation are more crucial than ever to ensure the industry’s resilience in the face of current challenges.

  • Alert in the Pearl Industry: Risks of Price Drops Due to Tax Exemption in Polynesia

    The Polynesian government recently announced the exemption of local pearl farmers from taxes on pearls, including the specific export duty on pearls (DSPE).
    This measure, introduced as part of the economic support plan led by Vice President Teva Rohfritsch, has raised concerns among international market players.

    Two black pearl sellers’ associations, based in Hong Kong and Japan respectively, have expressed strong concerns about the potential consequences of this tax exemption. According to them, the removal of the DSPE could lead to a drop in pearl prices on the international market. This duty, which is an export tax, plays a crucial role in filtering out lower-quality pearls and maintaining the average price of pearls at an acceptable level.

    The presidents of the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong and the Tahiti Pearl Promotion Society of Japan issued a statement warning the Polynesian government. They emphasized that the temporary removal of the DSPE could lead to an overproduction of low-quality pearls, disrupting market balance and causing a devaluation of unit prices.

    According to the associations, this measure also risks harming the credibility of the Tahitian pearl market. Consumers, who are key drivers of the industry, may hesitate to buy pearls perceived as having diminished value. This phenomenon would inevitably lead to a decline in sales, threatening the long-term stability of the industry.

  • Microplastic Pollution: A Ticking Time Bomb for Polynesia’s Pearl Oysters

    Since 2016, the MICROLAG project, led by Ifremer, has been investigating the impact of microplastics on pearl oysters in the Tuamotu atolls. Initial findings reveal alarming contamination levels in Polynesian lagoons—a crisis threatening the future of the region’s pearl industry.

    A Legacy of Plastic Waste

    Following the pearl industry collapse in the 1990s, abandoned farms left behind tons of plastic debris. Over time, weathering has broken this waste down into micro- and nanoplastics, now pervasive in lagoon waters.

    Groundbreaking Research

    The three-year MICROLAG study includes work by Tony Gardon, a PhD student and recipient of a 200,000-franc award from Europcar at the University Research Conferences. His research focuses on four pearl-farming lagoons in the Tuamotu, where he collected water samples based on particle sizes filtered by oysters.

    Alarming Findings

    • 5–8% of sampled particles were plastics.
    • Surface waters contain 2.5–4.5 particles per cubic meter, while deeper water concentrations soar to 176 particles per cubic meter—comparable to Mediterranean pollution levels.
    • Over 40% of these microplastics originate from pearl farming equipment.

    Oysters Under Threat

    As filter feeders, oysters are highly vulnerable. Gardon’s experiments with polystyrene microbeads revealed:

    • Reduced nutrient absorption
    • Metabolic disruptions
    • Declining gamete production
    • Physical damage to reproductive organs

    A Call for Action

    While results are preliminary, Gardon plans to expand his research—particularly on nanoplastics, an emerging threat. The findings underscore an urgent need for solutions to protect Polynesia’s pearl industry, an economic treasure now at risk.

  • Genetic Breakthrough Reveals Secrets Behind Polynesian Pearls’ Mysterious Colors

    After three years of intensive research on the genetic heritage of the Pinctada margaritifera pearl oyster, doctoral candidate Pierre-Louis Stenger has unlocked the secrets behind Polynesian pearls’ dazzling color palette. His thesis, successfully defended at the Pacific Doctoral School, sheds groundbreaking scientific light on this iconic gem of French Polynesia.

    Titled “Diversity and Chromatic Plasticity in the Pearl Oyster Pinctada margaritifera,” the defense took place on the Outumaoro campus before an engaged audience and a jury impressed by the study’s rigor. For over three hours, Stenger presented his findings, validating a research project now hailed as a major breakthrough for the pearl industry.

    The newly minted PhD researcher meticulously analyzed the mechanisms behind pigment formation in pearl oyster shells, focusing on three key colors: red, yellow, and green. Using a combination of transcriptomic, genomic, and epigenomic approaches, he identified the key genes responsible for coloration and the environmental factors influencing their expression.

    His work has uncovered valuable genetic markers for selecting oysters with superior aesthetic traits—a discovery that researchers say could eventually lead to more beautiful, uniform pearls without genetic modification.

    One of the most striking findings concerns the dominance of the red phenotype, unique to Polynesian pearl oysters, making this chromatic diversity a globally unmatched genetic asset. Now better understood, this trait could become a major commercial advantage for pearl farmers.

    Cédrik Lo, head of research programs at the Marine Resources Department, praised this scientific leap. He emphasized that these studies are part of a long-term strategy to enhance local pearl production—bridging fundamental science and commercial breeding, with support from private hatcheries.

    Now a recognized expert, Pierre-Louis Stenger will contribute to three new studies on pearl oysters starting next year, continuing his quest to reshape the future of Polynesian pearl farming through science.

  • The Abu Dhabi Pearl: A Neolithic Treasure on Display at the Louvre des Sables

    An invaluable pearl, dating back 8,000 years, is about to emerge from the shadows of time to shine under the spotlight of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

    Dubbed the “Abu Dhabi Pearl”, this prehistoric gem—considered the oldest ever discovered—will be unveiled to the public starting October 30, according to the emirate’s cultural authorities.

    Unearthed on Marawah Island, off the coast of the UAE capital, the pearl was excavated by a team of archaeologists and now belongs to the Zayed National Museum. It stands as evidence of pearl harvesting practices dating back to the Neolithic era, as confirmed by radiocarbon dating, which places its formation between 5,800 and 5,600 BCE.

    The pearl will be showcased in the “10,000 Years of Luxury” exhibition, where visitors will have the chance to admire this ancient treasure alongside 350 other iconic artifacts on loan from prestigious French museums. The event will run from October 30 to February 18 at the famed dome-clad museum.

    For Mohammed Khalifa al-Moubarak, head of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, this discovery highlights the deep cultural and economic roots of the Gulf—long before the era of oil or cultured pearls.

    Experts suggest these ancient pearls were used as trade currency with Mesopotamia, exchanged for pottery, or worn as prestige ornaments. The pearl industry, once thriving in the Gulf, reached its peak before declining in the 1930s with the rise of cultured pearls and the first oil drills.

    Through this exhibition, the Louvre Abu Dhabi redefines the concept of luxury, exploring 10 millennia of history—with the Abu Dhabi Pearl as one of its most striking jewels.

    The Abu Dhabi Pearl
    The Abu Dhabi Pearl
    A handout picture released by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi on October 20, 2019, shows a pearl recovered from an archeological site in on Marawah Island. (Photo by – / Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / ABU DHABI DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS —